Social Protection (M.Sc.)
MSc Social Protection Insights: May 2025
March 2025: Social Protection Insights
📢Strengthening Global Partnerships: H-BRS & Institute of Finance Management (IFM) Advance Collaboration
Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences (H-BRS) hosted a delegation from the The Institute of Finance Management (IFM), Tanzania, on 8-9 April, 2025, at the Sankt Augustin campus, marking a significant advancement in the institutions' longstanding academic partnership. A key highlight of the visit was the signing of an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by IFM Rector Prof. Josephat Lotto and H-BRS Vice President Prof. Dr. Teena Hassan , reaffirming our shared commitment to advancing collaboration in teaching, research, and academic exchange. Prof. Dr. Simona Helmsmüller, Prof. Dr. Kerstin Rosenow-Williams, and Brian Mathebula represented the Department of Social Policy and Social Security. These dialogues centered on the strategic progression of ongoing projects and the identification of further opportunities.
Furthermore, the delegations deliberated on the impactful Alumni Seminar of the MSc Social Protection held in Dar es Salaam in August 2023, the high-level delegation visit from H-BRS to IFM in 2024, as well as the ongoing research cooperation in the project Applied Research and Teaching for Sustainable Development in Africa (ART4DEV GH), reflecting on their contributions to the partnership's objectives. The visit concluded with the formulation of concrete, actionable next steps for intensified collaboration, including joint research initiatives, the expansion of student exchange programs, and possible collaborations in the supervision of PhD students at IFM.
Read more information here - https://www.h-brs.de/de/sv/news/delegation-des-institute-finance-management-ifm-aus-tansania-zu-besuch-der-hochschule-bonn
📢Applications from students not requiring a visa still welcome -Application Deadline is May 31, 2025
If you are from the EU or from another country that does not require a visa to study in Germany, you can still apply for the winter semester 2025 until May 31, 2025.Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their documents through our online application portal Apollo. Please allocate sufficient time to complete your application before the deadline to avoid any last-minute technical difficulties.
For more information, please visit our website: Access requirements and application Social Protection (MSc) | Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (H-BRS)
📢Application Period for our DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Scholarship for the Academic Year 2026/2027 starting June 1, 2025
The DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme supports future leaders from developing countries, who want to promote democracy and social justice in their home countries. From June 1 until July 31, 2025, we will accept scholarship applications for our DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme for the academic year 2026/2027.
Further information on the programme, on eligibility and selection criteria, and on the application process can be found here: DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme Scholarship | Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (H-BRS)
📝 Current Courses: Module 5 and 7
Building on the foundations of previous modules, students are deepening their understanding of social protection financing and management, and strengthening their scientific research and writing skills..
▶️Module 5: Social Protection Financing
▶️▶️5.2 Resource Mobilization // Prof Dr. Krzysztof Hagemejer
The module mainly focuses on tools that help analyze the current situation of social protection systems- including coverage, coverage gaps, and the resources currently allocated as well as the path forward. It explores how to create adequate policy and fiscal space, how to mobilize financial resources, and how to ensure long-term sustainable financing. It also addresses the statistical data required and the quantitative tools that support ex-ante analysis of the social, financial, and fiscal implications of different policy options.
▶️▶️5.3 Financing Techniques // Prof Dr. Krzysztof Hagemejer
Concluding Module 5, the submodule "Financing Techniques" examines the pros and cons of various financing options and their effectiveness in mobilizing resources. Students will analyze these methods through a political economy lens, assessing how different options align with the expectations, needs, and demands of key stakeholders influencing the policy space for social protection. This includes analyzing both the design of the system and its components, as well as the financing techniques themselves.
▶️Module 7 Social Protection Management
▶️▶️7.1 Delivery Mechanisms for Social Transfers // Prof Dr. Masauso Chirwa
This module aims to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of social protection program delivery chains and their implementation mechanisms. Students will learn sequential steps involved in the implementation processes, such as enrolment and payment mechanisms. Furthermore, the module will address challenges and opportunities in social transfer program delivery, including the crucial aspect of administrative costs.
▶️▶️7.3 Information Management // Shez Farooq
Information systems are now an integral part of every effective social protection system. In this submodule, students will explore how to design, govern, and scale these information systems responsibly. They will examine the broad information management concepts, approaches, and risks for the social protection system before delving into how a digital solution can support social protection programs and services
▶️ Module 9.1 Research Methods // Prof. Dr. Simona Helmsmüller
In Module 9, students will focus on sharpening their research skills. By systematically learning all the steps, from formulating a research question to gathering and analyzing data and writing up results, they will not only be better prepared for their master's thesis and a potential PhD later on. By the end of the module, students will be in a better position to judge the quality of secondary sources, which they will encounter throughout their further professional career.
Get to Know Our Students, Lecturers, and Alumni
Current student Spotlight
Meet Pauline Maas, one of our students from Germany studying in the second semester of the MSc Programme. Pauline has a background in Geography and hands-on experience in the humanitarian field. Her interests span risk prevention, international relations, and women's and children's rights.
She joined the program to gain a deeper understanding of how social protection systems function, with the long-term goal of designing and implementing impactful programs herself. Pauline draws inspiration from the program's international teaching staff and has built vibrant friendships in the diverse classroom.
„This programme allows me to combine my interest in risk management with my goal of shaping better social protection systems internationally”
Pauline Maas - Student, Batch 2024 Masters in Social Protection
Meet our Lecturers
Prof. Dr. Kerstin Rosenow-Williams is a Professor of Social Sustainability at the Department of Social Policy and Social Security at the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences. Since 2025, Prof. Rosenow-Williams has also been co-heading the Master's program in Social Protection (M.Sc). Her research interests focus on social sustainability, migration, children's rights, climate change, and gender. In the current academic semester, Prof. Rosenow-Williams teaches Module 6 (Electives onChildren/Youth) and Module 9 (Research Methods).
„Students and faculty work together to provide comparative insights into social protection systems around the world. I enjoy the deep dives with the students into child-sensitive social protection systems or adaptive social protection in the context of the climate crisis. The close supervision during the Master's thesis is always a highlight because of the close cooperation and mutual support of the candidates. The programme is recommended for anyone working in the field of social protection who wants to sharpen their analytical and research skills in an interdisciplinary and diverse environment in the beautiful region of Bonn-Rhein-Sieg.”
Prof. Dr. Kerstin Rosenow-Williams - Co-Head of the programme, MSc Social Protection
Resources, Events and Publications
Events
- Register for a webinar on Fostering Resilient Societies: Inclusive Policies for Social Justice and Cohesion on May 27th, organized by UNRISD , National Institute for Health and Welfare Finland
- Register for the inaugural session on Dialogues on displacement - Perspectives from ILO practitioners , 22 May 2025 to support institutional knowledge exchange and learning in the contexts of forced displacement.
Resources
- Read the award winning article on The Social Contract and Collective Action: Grievances, Cleavages, and Protests in Tunisia and Lebanon co-authored by our Prof Dr Markus Loewe
- Read a blogpost on Living True International Cooperation: Twisting the North-South Logic in the Digital World authored by our Prof Dr Esther Schüring
- Read Social protection and aquatic food systems authored by our alumni Martin Paul Jr. Tabe-Ojong, Ph.D.
- Read Assessment of loss and damage of extreme rainfall events by one of our alumni Bashiru Turay
- Visit an interactive webpage on Social protection: Transforming the lives of women in crisis
CONTACT US!
We are always interested in creating partnerships with those of you working in the field! We would love to hear from you if are interested in
- being a #ThesisSupervisor,
- providing #Internship opportunities to our students,
- publishing a paper in our #WorkingPaper series, or
- visiting our university as a #GuestSpeaker
Your feedback and suggestions to improve the newsletter are also very welcome.
📩 msc-socialprotection@h-brs.de
🌐 Master's of Science in Social Protection | Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (H-BRS)